Charles scott snell



(No Model.) v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

0. S. SNELL.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

No. 467,267. Patented Jan. 19, 1892.

MW 0. 5 5M6 2 SheetsSheet 2.

(N6 Model.)

0. S. SNELL. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

,267; Patented Jan. 19, 1892.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES SCOTT SNELL, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 467,267, dated January19, 1892.

Application filed September 13, 189] Serial No. 406,072. (No model.)Patented in England July 6, 1889, No. 10,929.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES SooTr SNELL, a subject of the Queen of GreatBritain, residing at London, England, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Type- Vriting Machines, (patented in England July6, 1889, No. 10,929,) of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

My invention relates to improvements in type-writers in which the use ofkeys is dispensed with; and the objects of myimprovements are thesimplification of the mechanism in such a manner as to render theconstruction of an efficient type-writer cheaper than has hitherto beenpracticable, and, also, in the use of such machines to afford greaterfacility for acquiring rapidity of working, I attain these objects bythe mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure1, Sheet 1, is an elevation of the entire machine suitably broken off soas to preserve the relative dimensions. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.Fig. 3 is a view of one of the end brackets, showing certain mechanismattached thereto; and Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the machine shown byFig. 1 with part of the end bracket broken 01f to show the mechanismmore clearly. Fig. 5, Sheet 2, is an elevation of a modification of theimproved type-writer, and Fig. 6 is a plan there of. Fig. 7 is anelevation of the carriage, showing a slight modification of the mannerof holding and feeding the inking-ribbon, and

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the same. Figs. 9, 10, and 11 are detailsapplicable to the improved type-writer in general.

Similarletters referto sim ilar parts throughout the several views.

A base A, with vertical brackets B B and toothed guide-bars C O,constitute the framework of the machine. Said toothed guidebars 0 and Oare preferably arranged within slots in the brackets'B B, as shown byFigs. 3 and 4, for the purpose of lateral adjustment. A roller D isborne by a spindle within slots in the brackets B B in such a mannerthat when in one position, as shown by Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, thecircumferential surface is pressed throughout its length by theguide-bars O O, and said pressure is maintained by means of a spring a.The sheet of paper that is to be printed upon is gripped between saidguide-bars, so as to present a smooth surface upon the upper side of theroller D. This is best shown by the cross-section, Fig. 11', in whichthe manner of folding the paper pis at once apparent. A thumb-head E anda projecting spindle s (which may or may not be provided with a similarthumb-head) en.- ables the roller D to be forced down against thetension of the spring a and retained in the position shown by the dottedoutline, Fig. 3, by the L-shaped slot in both of the brackets B B. Uponthe spindle of said roller D are also fixed one or more toothed wheelsor ratchets b b, which are differently pitched, so as to allow of avarying degree of space between the lines of the type-written matterupon the page 19, which is fed by means of the thumb-head E. Aspring-pawl c is arranged so as to engage with any of said toothedwheels or ratchets, as may be desired, and so afford a ready means for agiven rate of feed corresponding to a predetermined space between thelines of matter. A carriage F, fitting the guide-bars O O, bears apivoted arm G upon the transverse spindle H. Said arm G carries a rigidspindle I, which is sufficiently extended upon each side to allow of thefree lateral movement of the type-seg ment J, which carries type-bars t,arranged around the lower half of its circumference. A cross-bar K ispivoted at d and provided with an extension L, carrying an index M. Anextension of the arm G carries an indexplate P, upon which the letters,figures, or signs conforming to the use of the machine are marked, andeach sign is preferably re cessed or countersunk in order to allow of anappreciable degree of locking of the index M when this is placed uponany such sign. The type formed upon the bars 15 and carried by thetype-segment J is so arranged as to correspond in every particular withthe indexplate P, that when the index M is placed upon any figure markedthereon the position of the segment J (being free to move radially andlaterally upon the spindle I) is such as to bring the correspondingfigure of the type over the inking-tape in order to impress said figureon the paper.

Upon each side of the index-plate P is placed a vertical stud-piece N,carrying a pawl O at its extremity, pivoted at q and kept in contactwith the toothed guide-bar O by means of a spiral or spring 1'. Thetension of this spring also maintains the arm G when at rest in such aposition as to keep the type upon the segment J from contact with thesurface of the paper on the roller D.

hen a sign, figure, or letter is desired to be marked thereon and theindex M is placed opposite the corresponding sign upon the index-plateP, the whole is depressed by the pressure of the hand upon M, and thepawl 0 causes the carriage F to advance through the space of one toothof the guide-bars O C, which corresponds to the desired space betweeneach letter or sign; and so the carriage is fed and longitudinal spacingprovided for by the depression of the arm G in the action of imprintingeach letter, while the lower circumferential surface of J may be alteredradially or laterally relatively to the points thereupon correspondingto marks upon the index-plate P. Two rollers R R are provided with aninked tape, which is passed through suitable guides so that a portion ofit crosses the bed of the machine directly under the vertical center ofthe typesegment J at right angles to the axes of said rollers R R. Aratchet-wheel w w is attached to the side of each of the tape-rollers,and a pawl u u pivoted to the carriage F is arranged so that one suchpawl may be placed in contact with the teeth of either of theratchet-wheels w w, as maybe desired. Only one of said pawls u u is tobe in gear at one time, and when the machine is in use each depressionof the arm G causes one of the rollers R R to be advanced through thespace of one tooth of the ratchet-wheels w w, whichever may be in gear.Thus the inking-surface of the ribbon may be continually changedautomatically until the inking or marking property thereof has becomeexhausted.

In order to audibly warn the operator of the end of the longitudinaltraverse of the carriage F, which is equivalent to the termination of aline of type-writing, we provide a bell-gong T, rigidly attached to theframework, and a spring-slip or flexible metallic tongue m upon thecarriage F, so that when the latter is approaching the end of thetraverse the tongue or is pressed back by the edge of the gong T and therecoil causes the latter to sound sharply.

As the radial segment J forms an essential portion of my invention, withthe cross-bar K, extension L, and index M, I have shown the whole in theperspective view, Fig. 9, as detached from the rest of the machine.

In certain cases I may somewhat modify the details of constructionwithout departing from the essential features of my said invention, asshown by the elevation Fig. 5 and the plan Fig. 6, in which the segmentJ is provided with a semicircular plate of either india-rubber or metaltype, and is supported by a spindle I between two arms G G, suflicientroom being allowed for the necessary lateral movement of J upon thespindle. A

plate Q is provided with an inking-pad and a central orifice throughwhich the letter or sign to be impressed upon the paper may protrudewhen the index M is depressed, the whole surface of the type being inkedby the radial and lateral movement of J during the operation ofprinting. Inlieu of the spiral springs 0 hereinbefore referred to, Iemploy an adjustable screw U, the point of which impinges upon a block Vof india-rubber or the like, which causes the arms G G, carrying thesegment J and index-plate P, to lift when the pressure of the hand isreleased after printing each letter or sign.

Another slight modification consists in the substitution of spiralsprings a. for the coiled wire spring before described, for the purposeof controlling the roller D. In every other respect the device isexactly similar to that shown by Figs. 1 and 2.

In the elevational view, Fig. 7, and the plan view, Fig. 8, amodification of the ink device is shown, where the inked tape is woundupon two rollers R the axes of which are parallel to the guide-bars G C,and said rollers are mounted upon wire studs y, so that they are raisedand lowered by each movement of the index M. A ratchet-wheel w w isattached to each roller, and a cross-bar w (shown more particularly byFig. 10) carries two pawls u it, either of which may be placed so as toengage with the ratchet-wheels w w. Said cross-bar w is attached to thearm G in such a manner as to feed either of the inked taperollers, whichmay be operated by dropping either of the pawls into gear.

lVhat I claim, and desire to procure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is-

1. In a type-writer, the combination of a type-segment J, transversebearings on which said segment is adapted to oscillate, cross-bar K,index M, mounted thereon, index-plate I 011 arm G, and sliding carriageF with guidebars 0 C, automatic feeding device 0, and paper-roller D,with spacing device 0 b b, as set forth.

2. In a typewriter, the combination, with type-segment J,cross-barKJndeX M,mounted thereon, and index-plate P, of rollers R R,provided with inking-tape adapted to pass under the vertical center ofthe type-segment J, substantially as and for the purpose specifled.

3. In a type-writer, the combination of a type-segment J, index M, andindex-plate I with a sliding carriage F, guide-bars C C, bell gong T,and striking-clip 00, mounted on a spring-shank adapted to permit saidclip to spring under the bell, substantially as described and shown.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES SCOTT SNELL.

Witnesses:

Gno. Tnos. HYDE, AUG. L. PICAUD.

